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(No Model.)

J. M. FORDHAM. MATCH BOX 0R. LIKE REOEPTAOLE. No. 495,320. Patented Apr. 11, 1898. v

WITNESSES INVENTOH A TTORNE YS.

UNTTTT) STATES PATENT @rrrcn.

JOHN M. FORDHAM, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

MATCH-BOX OR LIKE RECEPTACLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 495,320, dated April 11, 1893.

Application filed May 1'7, 1892. Serial No. 433,289- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN M. FORDHAM, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Match-Boxes and Like Receptacles, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to an improvement in match boxes and like receptacles, and has for its object to so construct such receptacles that a cap or casing may be combined therewith in such a manner as to form a concealed compartment for the reception of dice or lithe objects, and whereby the cap or casing may be removed when desired and utilized as a dice box; and a further object of the invention is to so locate the cap or casing upon a match box that its addition will be hardly discernible, and whereby also the addition will not detract in the slightest from the shape or from the beauty of the box no matter how ornamentally constructed.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the several parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar figures and letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the match box having the improvement applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section through the improved box; and Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the extra cap, cup or casing.

The body of the match box A, may be of any approved construction, and its cover or lid B, is preferably made of the same cross sectional contour as the body, but the cover is made so much smallerin diameter as to admit of the cover fitting into the body, as best shown in Fig; 2. The cover B, is held to the body in any suitable or approved manner, and at its hinged point the cover is braced by any desired shape of spring 10, while a latch 11, is located at the front edge of the body adapted for engagement with the cover when closed. The spring 10, the latch 11, the character of the hinge and the material from which the cover and the body of the box are to be made, constitute no portion of this invention.

The invention consists primarily in reducing the diameter of the coverB to receive the cap,cup or casing O, which cap, cup or casing is preferably given the same cross sectional shape as the body, and is of like diameter. The cover B and the cap, cup or casing are normally connected by frictional contact only, and when the cup, cap or casing is properly placed upon the cover B and the cover is closed, the cap, cup or casing appears as a portion of the box, and the box is given the ordinary exterior appearance, as is clearly shown in Fig. 1, and it is evident that the cover may be opened or closed in the same manner as though the cap, cup or casing were not affixed to it. The downward movement of the cup, cap or casing upon the cover is shown in the drawings as being limited by the upper edge of the body of the box, which edge serves as a stop, as shown in Fig. 2 of the said drawings.

As the cap, cup or casing is much deeper than the cover B, a compartment 12, is formed between the inner end surface of the cup or cap and the outer surface of the cover, and in this chamber or compartment the dice, or other articles to be carried in connection with matches are concealed until required for use, and they are rendered readily accessible, since all that is necessary is to invert the box, placing it cover downward, and withdrawing the cap, cup or casing from engagement with the cover.

The cap, cup or casing when removed, as

shown in Fig. 3, may be utilized as a dice box;

but when the dice are not required for use they are placed in the cap, cup or casing, and the latter is slid over and upon the cover.

It is evident that when a match box is constructed as above described, various articles which are often required and which may tend to alford amusement or pastime, may be carried safelyin a match box without detracting from the appearance of said box and without reducing its capacity for holding matches.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The combination, with a match box, or similar article, of a cap, cup or casing removably attached to the box at one end, the cap, cup or casing forming a second compartment in the box independent of other compartments, substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination, with a match box, of a cap, cup or casing removably located upon one end, the cap, cup or casing being provided with a stop limiting its movement over the box, the said cap, cup or casing being of a sufiicient depth to form a compartment between the end of the box proper and its closed end, the compartment being adapted for the reception of dice or other articles, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. As an improved article of manufacture, a match box consisting of a body, a cover hinged to the body, and a cap, cup or casing removably attached to the cover and carried thereby, the cap, cup or casing being of sufficient depth to provide for a compartment between its closed end and the outer end of the cover, as and for the purpose set forth.

4. As an improved article of manufacture, a match box the cover-of which is of less diameter than the body and adapted to fit into the body, and a cap, cup or casing having frictional engagement with the cover, the said cap, cup or casing being adapted at its inner end to engage with the body and at its outer end to extend beyond the outer end of the cover producing thereby a chamber for the reception of dice, the cap, cup or casing being further adapted for use as a dice box when removed from engagement with the match box, as and for the purpose specified.

JOHN M. FORDHAM. WVitnesses:

J. FRED. AOKER, E. M. CLARK. 

